American Designers Challenge... "Dot"

For last weeks Sew Weekly challenge. They chose American Designers. I was kinda short on time but wanted to join in. This is where one of my Built By Wendy patterns came in. As Wendy Mullens was my inspiration. This is Built by Wendy 3692 from Simplicity. I wasn't enamoured by it on the pattern envelope as I said before but here it is finally finished and I love it! I lowered the neckline just a tad but it could do with taking in a bit more (As per usual I cut too big for my actual body size.) Its only a remnant from Ditto and less than 30cms of white jersey for the yoke.

I'm pleased to say it fits in with the whole capsule wardrobe thing I've decided to go for and looks good with my Small Victory Beignet.

This week has been a week of prep for sewing more than actual sewing. I have pre-washed loads of fabric and spent most of today cutting up the patterns I want to use in the next few weeks.

Heres a better look at some of the Jerseys,

The Best Laid Plans...

One of my favorite bits of sewing is planning what I'm going to make. Whilst unpacking I decided to pull out a few patterns I was thinking about using for now/Autumn/Winter sewing.

What a mistaka to maka! 25 patterns came out, not including the free burda ones, or the ones I've had ordered, Sewaholic and otherwise.

I did exactly the same thing I always do. Dresses are not something I wear often unless I can stick tights or leggings underneath. 11 of the patterns were dresses! 6 were tops, 5 were Jackets and 1 was for PJs and 2 for shorts.

After looking in horror at these patterns and realising there was only 5 or so that had ever been used I decided on a scary solution.
I already have a partial fabric ban. I can buy one piece for every 3 I use. How about a RTW clothing ban like Jane? I'm not sure I could manage but I could certainly try until Christmas.
Has anyone else tried doing this?

I seem to make clothes at an alarmingly quick rate at the moment so perhaps this wouldn't be so bad.

Talking of which here is my Sew Weekly challenge in progress. I'm really pleased with it so far! This week is American Designers and I went for Wendy Mullins, who owns Built By Wendy. This is one of her patterns she did for Simplicity, I've taken to feverishly collecting them!

I wasn't convinced this would look good with my bust and all the ones i've seen bar one were not my kind of thing. I am not sure if I should add the sleeves or not. It needs taking in a little but it is looking pretty good. Its just a white cotton jersey and a white and blue polka dot cotton jersey. I think I could get a lot of wear out of this!

More Sewing moodboards to come. I'm still hoping to get my Beignet skirt and Violet top finished this week as I've sorted out the Buttpocket. I'm trying to intermix new and UFO so that I don't get too bored!

Me-Made Meetup!

(Just a few of us! Thanks to Suzie for the photo)

Ok so this is an interval in sewalong posts. Yesterday I met some lovely friends old an new, for the me made meetup in Brighton.

We had a fantastic time and did a bit of light fabric retail therapy followed by a fabric swap.

I'm happy to say the fabric I took to swap went to a new home where it was wanted, and the fabric I received in return was fabulous!

Heres my purchases for the first part of the day. All were from Ditto.

This is a firm cotton twill? Its a bit softer but not silky enough to be a sateen. This is going to be a burda Marie Skirt I think.

Some polkadot Jersey. I always love the remnant table and almost never buy their jersey unless its on the table.
The red bamboo jersey was also a remnant. Its normally a tenner a metre so I was pleased to pick this up!
The next lot is a Paul Smith shirting with little S' on!
Now onto the swap stuff. This is a lovely cotton sateen style fabric.

This is a slightly silky jersey, perhaps a slub?

Then there is a cotton jersey in yummy ice cream colours!

Finally I got a floral with a slight needlecord feel and stretch.

You would think that would have been more than enough right? But the day before some lovely quilting cottons came that I ordered from the U.S. about a month ago!

Jeanine Morrison's Atlas in Butter,

The next is Dena Tea garden in Oolong! (love the tea reference and the pink is amazing.)

The final one is a Joel Dewberry Deer in Barnwood. Delicious right? Looks like a 1930s feedsack print.

Now to plan all the lovely clothes to make!

Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you... Gustav Holst

I really liked that quote as it totally applies to sewing as well as music!
Today has been a Uni day and my tutor was really positive about my dissertation proposal woo!

I popped into town after to pick up some vintage buttons, I found a nice pattern and some new espadrilles yay!

The last lot are what i'm using for my beignet. The photo makes them lighter but they actually fit my lining perfectly!

Heres MMJ Day 3's outfit. My jersey top I made last week is super comfy!

I'm off to sit in the sunshine for a bit with my Burda magazine

Progress List...

Morning all. I am blogging early so I can drag my sorry self to the library. Something tells me I won't be getting much sewing done this week which is making me a bit tense.

So I figured a progress report will help so I know where I am with each project.

First up is my duck egg cotton. This has been cut for Simplicity 2601 in the end. I have some duck egg swiss dot I got at Goldhawk Rd. I could use for the Violet if I wanted a blue one.

This hasn't got past the cutting stage. But as I've made this before it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to construct.

My Violet shirt is started. I'm getting on really well with it. I'm into the collar stage so it shouldn't take much to finish.

I didn't really talk much about this one. Partly because its fast becoming a UFO. The fabric is beautiful and expensive but I rushed it for the Sew Weekly meetup and the sleeves are appalling. It needs the sleeves taken off and a few bits straightening out, the collar put on and the belt made. I have to get this done as it is a lovely cardigan that I would get a lot of wear out of!

My original plan for this fabric was a different pattern, but since i bought the minty green colourway I reserved it for that pattern instead and went for this in pink with a white collar. This is virtually finished but someone started to sew the collar the wrong way round (DOH)

I did all the finishings first though so no more fiddly bits left on this one.

My Jeans are cut and marked but I had a bit of a freakout about how complex they looked. I have had a look at Peter's Jeans Sewalong posts and a few other bits and bobs but I think I have to be 100% focused to be able to get around to these.

My Lisette Traveller is cut and ready. I'm doing the tunic version with the small collar but making it longer so that I can wear it with leggings.

I know I was trying to resist cutting the Beignet but I couldn't I did it yesterday whilst waiting for an email from my tutor. I just need the interfacing piece cut and this is ready to sew. I was surprised at how difficult the needlecord was to cut. I ironed beforehand but it just kept wrinkling, hopefully this won't affect the pieces too much.

I've prewashed my fabric ready for the Market Sewalong. Just a plain dark purple. I have some cute buttons lined up for the placket too! I personally will be doing Version E but if you want to do a different version be my guest! I might squeeze in the tunic version but I am already pretty swamped!

This is the Jersey for the simple 6874. This is pre washed and drying before its cut out but I think this could be done in an afternoon no problem.

It doesn't look like that much on my rail. Gosh. Here's hoping I get some free time soon!

When there is work to be done, go buy fabric...

So that you have an incentive to finish your work and get sewing? No? Alright then.

I had a bit of a meh morning and ended up in Ditto.

I knew I needed some Jersey for some knit tops. (I saw someone last night wearing a sky blue drapey cowl neck on telly last night and I wanted one.)

Sadly they were all out of blue jersey. But I came home with 2m of plain Chartreuse,

1.50 of an orangey pinky brown print jersey in the remnants for £3ish and a yummy cotton interlock white jersey with lime spots and blue and purple flowers. I couldn't leave it!

I have various plans that change pretty much every minute in my head. I have to say Jersey in not my favorite thing to sew with but it is my favorite thing to wear. Sooo comfy!

The Brown Viscose Jersey will be a little top as there isn't much fabric to play with. I might be able to squeeze a little ruffle or something in to add interest but lets hope it doesn't shrink in the Pre-Wash. I was thinking of making it in Simplicity 6874. Which only requires one meter. I got this on the London Sew Weekly Meetup Pattern Swap! I'm so pleased its come in handy so quickly.

I own a Ponte knit Chartreuse cardigan and it is my favorite thing ever! But Its getting holes in! I have tracked down some Ponte but Ditto didn't have it in. So I went for another Viscose Jersey. I think it might still end up a cardigan but I might squeeze a plain top in as well.

I quite literally have no plans for this. I think I'm lacking in comfy tunic/dresses to wear with leggings but im not sure about a suitable pattern for this. Good news is it matches some of the stuff I've got going on already so perhaps a seperates game could be good on this too? A comfy little skirt and cute top that when together make a comfy dress? I will have a think.

I didn't get up to much sewing on the weekend. Just cut out my Raspberry Gingham shirtdress.

I was hoping to get stuck into the Beignet this week but I have an exam on Friday. So I should probably get stuck into that first...

I think I need another roundup post with moodboards so I can keep on track of this mad sewing frenzy.

Me Made June 11

'I, Stevie of Beebeesvintagedress.blogspot.com,

sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11.
I endeavour to wear one handmade item each day for the duration of June 2011'

Phew. I had better get cracking then! Otherwise June could be a very boring month!

I have finished (bar the zip, hem and armholes) My red white and blue dress. A few sneaky pictures later but i'm keeping it mainly under wraps until the London Blogger Meet.

After my little moodboards I immediately panicked when I made this pledge. 30 days!? How the hell am I going to do that!?

Out of everything I have made and everything I have planned to make so far I've worked out that it gives me... 7 dresses 4 skirts 3 tops 1 cardigan and 1 pair of trousers. When I wrote that, it seems quite a lot but I am a fussy one when it comes to my clothes, I have to be honest I'm more of a jeans and cardi girl. (Unless its winter and I can have wooly tights) I feel somewhat exposed in a dress even though I love them!

I am thinking the antidote could be knit tops and quick make ones at that! That way I can pair it with jeans most days without pushing my comfort zone too much this time around.

Heres all the top pattern contenders I own. I'm also thinking a fre cardi's like this New Look pattern,

Hopefully most of these can be made in multi versions like this one which would diversify my wardrobe and quickly! So I could bulk cut and make in batches.


I've never done a cowl neck but it was one of the pieces i'd really like to own, they are comfy and effortlessly stylish?

What are you planning for Me Made June?